Why You Should Cycle from Manali to Leh Once In Your Life

Why You Should Cycle from Manali to Leh Once In Your Life

The distance: a great 545 km. The challenge: cycling at over 18,000 feet (!) in gruesome terrain and thin mountain air. The prize: immense triumph and an accomplishment only few people on Earth can boast about.

All of that may sound either daunting or exciting, depending on the level of your cycling expertise. However there is one thing no one can deny, regardless of how they feel – it is absolutely amazing. Like the great conquests of archaic kings we’ve read about, Manali – Leh is nothing less of an accomplishment. Which is exactly why you can and should put your foot to the pedal and get moving! The next cycling expedition from Manali to Leh is in June, and we have a 3-month training plan in place already.

Before speculating whether or not you should do the 545 km ride, you need to know if you can do it. Looking back at our previous Manali -Leh mountain biking tours, we observed the type of customers who finished the entire ride and a few of their common characteristics, which we do not doubt, helped them succeed. If you have these personality traits, perhaps cycling the full length from Manali to Leh is for you too:

You’re tenacious If you’re someone who is a determined individual in your everyday life, a cycling challenge like this one is right up your alley. This trait will particularly come in handy during the expedition on an uphill battle-like climb. Your body may ask you to give up but your mind shouldn’t let you.

You like to compete If you’ve got a competitive spirit, you’ll fit right in with the rest of the Manali-Leh riders clan. You will soon realize, however, that you’re really competing with yourself.

You’re independent The training alone for a cycling expedition like this one requires you to put in a good amount of time and effort into exercise. Following the training plan and meals, and doing it by yourself (of course, we’re there to help but the hard work is all yours), takes being independent and liking it.

You don’t like being part of the crowd Even though Manali – Leh rides are slowly gaining popularity, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. You like to stand out and if something adventurous and out of the box inspires you then you’re exactly the kind of person who should Sign Up.

You care about fitness Being fit is imperative to our rides, specially when we’re gaining 5,600 m elevation in a single day. If you’re complacent with your health and you show up for the ride, you may not be able to finish. So if you’re committed 100%, it’s best to get your hands dirty sooner than later.

You love the great outdoors We’ll be crossing great mountain passes, overlooking valleys, alpine forests, barren land, lakes and pure lush greenery all around us, if you’re not an outdoorsy person, it’s probably not a great idea to start with a tour that may overwhelm you.

You’re passionate about cycling We’re not talking about cycling as a hobby every now and then, a passionate cyclist invests time honing his/her skills and stamina on their trusted bike. That sort of commitment is necessary. Even if cycling is an interest now, if you feel like it’s something you can stick to for life, by all means, be a part of our next Manali – Leh expedition.

So, if you feel like these character traits are relate-able, you can move on to the part of why you SHOULD go on the Manali – Leh Cycling Expedition with GoMissing:

You’ll See Sights You Only See in PostcardsThe ride itself is extremely beautiful and surreal. As indescribable as the experience of riding through gravel covered by mountains overshadowing your path is, it’s something that needs to be expressed.

The climb on the way to Nakee-la Pass.

We’ll go through mountain passes covered in snow, straight roads in high-desert lands with unsuspecting monasteries to be found all across to small cities that look so regal, they could be ancient towns fit for exploration.

Overlooking Rohtang Pass, Day 3 of our ride.

The variety of landscapes alone, can be a lot to take in. Capturing these with a camera is one thing, but seeing a snow-covered Rohtang Pass after climbing up from Manali in person is an entirely different experience.

You’ll Stay at the best Campsites To get a real experience of the famed locations spanned across the Manali – Leh highway, you can’t just cross them. You have to set up shop and camp in locations we’ve handpicked for you to have the most magical experience in.

One of our unforgettable campsites.

View from the other side of our favorite camping spot.

An experience like this alone, gives you a deeper appreciation for nature and compels us to go on and discover the remaining beauty till our very last destination and ride – Leh to Khardung La, which nearly tops the list of highest motor-able passes in the world.

You Will Gain an Understanding of Unique CulturesNatural wonders aside, we will also be indulging in a little R & R whilst visiting some spectacular man-made wonders. Leh has a widespread Tibetan influence, which gave rise to many monasteries and traditions, old and new.

Inside Thikse Monastery, Thikse Village

Leh Palace, overlooking the city of Leh.

We will be visiting some of these locations to learn more about the cities we are staying in and about the fascinating cultural contrast that exists in the one nation. Not only structures and culture, you will also get to experience amazing Tibetan cuisine.

Meet Some of the Most Hospitable PeopleDuring the rides, you will come across varying terrain, altitude and landscape. One thing however, stays constant. The charming and humble people of the hills.

In the streets of Old Town, Leh.

From Manali and ever-present once we’re approaching Leh, the local people of the area are known to be friendly and much more hospitable than one would expect. It adds to the charm of a city when you can cycle and every time you stop, you are greeted by a friendly face.

You Can See Cities and Towns in a Whole New WayWe were most amazed by how beautiful a high-desert city can look when the sun shines brightly on it. Cycling up to a point where you get to see a backdrop of mountains set among blue and white skies is a reward in itself…but nothing compared to when we wheeled up to the city of Leh. Pure bliss and art combined made a city that few have had the chance to appreciate.